Neltharion the "Earth-Warder"? Meaning?

[Kaadirkurem-defias-brotherhood]

Hi
I’m mostly aware of the lore of the dragon aspects and Deathwing, but recently I noticed how odd the role of Neltharion was.
The other 4 dragon aspects had clear roles, but what about Neltharion? He was to protect Azeroth itself? I feel like there were better ways to do that than by being closed in a cave somewhere. The Earthen Ring and the Cenarion druids also protect Azeroth, but they don’t live underground 24/7

Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong about everything

[Sereluna-silvermoon]

Yeah, I think it is quite literally the planet’s crust itself. It is an important task, considering that the Old Gods were burrowed into the planet itself, and it were the duty of the aspects to guard each aspect of Azeroth from the Old Gods.

[Kaadirkurem-defias-brotherhood]

Oh, you mean that he was to ensure that nobody from the surface would attempt to unleash the Old Gods by digging or otherwise manipulating Azeroth’s crust?
Because guarding the Old Gods themselves would be a futile task

So the titans who gave the respective powers to the aspects all knew about the Old Gods? How could they not know that the whispers of the Old Gods can drive living beings to insanity?
Or they did know, but they didn’t think it would affect the dragons?

[Sereluna-silvermoon]

@Kaadirkurem-defias-brotherhood

Oh, you mean that he was to ensure that nobody from the surface would attempt to unleash the Old Gods by digging or otherwise manipulating Azeroth’s crust?

That, and probably to prevent an event like the Cataclysm.

@Kaadirkurem-defias-brotherhood

How could they not know that the whispers of the Old Gods can drive living beings to insanity?
Or they did know, but they didn’t think it would affect the dragons?

Could be that they simply did not know of their abilities. The Old God would have reason to keep it secret.

[Cipmt-veknilash]

Dragon lore is a complete mess.

@Sereluna-silvermoon

probably to prevent an event like the Cataclysm.

How Cataclysm ended was the most stupid end of an expansion. “We were empowered to stop one of us doing something he could not do if we were not empowered”. And now that they lost all powers, what if some stupid elf/human/orc/gnoll/whatever try to unleash the old gods? Who protects Azeroth?

Yes, I know, most fantasies likes to end with “the end of eternals and the start of age of mortals”. In the same expansion they brought back ancients, who should be all dead, but “killed” dragon flights.

And all Murozond thing is stupid. I am sure that Bllizzard thought as a very smart “timey wimey stuff”.

[Aatsui-twilights-hammer]

@Cipmt-veknilash

How Cataclysm ended was the most stupid end of an expansion. “We were empowered to stop one of us doing something he could not do if we were not empowered”. And now that they lost all powers, what if some stupid elf/human/orc/gnoll/whatever try to unleash the old gods? Who protects Azeroth?

Obviously Titans arent very good at predicting stuff or they wouldnt lose to Sargeras.

Secondly, I believe what is implied is despite the Apects seperate charges, they all share the common goal of protecting Azeroth.

Supposedly Alexsrazsha protects life but other aspects have defended mortals in some instances. Or Alexstraszha has assisted Ysera in the dream in th Novel Stormrage.

So its not like they were empowered for no reason. The minute Deathwing turned evil, their protecting Azeroth duty became to stop him pretty much.